Deciphering the role of phosphorus management under conservation agriculture based wheat production system

Phosphorus (P) is a vital element required by all living organism (plants, animals and microbes etc.). Its application in agriculture, whether in conventional or conservation agriculture, requires careful attention due to its low use efficiency, which typically does not exceed 20%. With the increasing acceptance of conservation agriculture (CA), it is crucial to develop protocols for P management to ensure sustainable wheat production. Therefore, a field trial was conducted from 2016–2017 to 2017–2018 in the India's semiarid eco-region to study the role of P on wheat productivity, quality, and resource use efficiency under CA-based production system. We assessed the impact of tillage operations and P management practices on wheat productivity, quality, and resource use efficiency. Three tillage and residue management options such as CT-R (conventional tillage without residue); NT-R (no tillage without maize residue) and NT + R (no tillage with maize residue @ 2.5 Mg ha−1) were laid-out in main plot and five P management options subplots viz. P1 (nitrogen and potash according to recommended but not P); P2 (17.2 kg P ha−1); P3 (17.2 kg of P ha−1 + microbial fertilizer); P4 (17.2 kg P ha−1 + compost inoculant culture) and P5 (34.4 kg P ha−1) in split plot design with three replicates. The results indicates that the combination of no-tillage with residue retention (maize residue @ 2.5 Mg ha−1) (NT + R) and the application of 34.4 kg P ha−1 (P5) significantly improved grain yield by ~43.2% compared to the control treatment (conventional tillage with no residue, CT – R, and no phosphorus application). NT + R also resulted in significantly better amino acid (~22.7%) and net protein yield (~21.2%) compared to CT – R. Regarding the P management strategy, the highest amino acid (49.1%) and protein yield (12.5%) were observed under the P5 treatment compared to the no-phosphorus treatment. Conjoint use of NT – R, along with the application of 17.2 kg P ha−1 and PSB (Phosphorus Solubilizing Bacteria), resulted in a significant increase in energy use efficiency of ~58% over other treatments combination. Furthermore, the NT + R plot that received 17.2 kg P ha−1 + PSB demonstrated higher P agronomic efficiency (~43%) and recovery efficiency (~53%) over control. The study's findings underscore the significance of adopting efficient P management strategies in CA to ensure the sustainable production of wheat

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Not AvailablePopularly known nun orchid or swamp orchid (Phaius sps.) is listed as endangered species under Schedule-I of Indian Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. Natural Phaius hybrids were not reported and present study is an attempt to develop a new Phaius species by using two native species viz., Phaius tankervilleae (Banks ex l’Heritier) Bl and Phaius flavus (Blume) Lindl. Result of present study suggests crossability and compatibility between these two species which helped in synthesize novel hybrid species. New Phaius hybrid produced flowers with dominating yellow-orange colour (RHS 17B/A) sepals and petals are bright crimson colour (RHS 175B) with elongated stripes on lip inside. First flowering of Phaius cross progenies (PBX-11-22) was observed in Jan-Mar, 2017 with regular flowering habit in consecutive seasons. Comparison with parents indicated distinct nature in floral attributes. Unlike Phaius flavus, the sepals and petals of novel progenies have spreading nature. Flower size varies from 7-8 x 8.5-9 cm with mild fragrance on shiny and warm days. Sequential flowering in acropetal fashion with 8-10 florets observed on moderately strong spike with potted vase life > 40 days.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableOrchids play a crucial role as cut flowers and potted plants in floriculture and accounts 8 % of the floriculture trade in the world, where as Oil Palm is grown in the humid tropical belts with having an advantage of low input cost management with maximum gross returns/ha than any other major field crops. There is great possibility in oil palm orchards to grow tropical orchids mainly epiphytic orchids, like success achieved in Coconut orchards in Kerala.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableIn tissue culture, transferring of small plantlets without proper in vitro hardening results in higher mortality rate. An effort was therefore made using Dendrobium hybrid (HBD-V-19.5-10-SPT) towards devising the ways and means to overcome the mortality problems. The two leaf stage plants were used as explants for the experiment and were cultured in half strength Nitch basal media lacking in sucrose, vitamins and organic component; but having sterilized bricks pieces, charcoal and coconut husk. The explants 1 cm (appx.) in size were sterilized twice before mixing with media @ 25 g each of brick pieces, charcoal and coconut husk used in combination of 1:1 ratio i.e., brick pieces + charcoal, brick pieces + coconut husk, coconut husk _ charcoal and control, with and without activated charcoal (AC). After six months, plantlets were transferred to community pots containing respective potting mixture as that of in in vitro hardeing and plantlets from the control treatment were potted in potting mixture comprising brick + charcoal + coconut husk (1:1:1) and survival % was recorded after three months. The results revealed cent per cent survivability in the treatments of 'brick pieces + charcoal' and 'brick pieces + coconut husk'.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableA new Dendrobium hybrid, NRCO-42 is developed using Dendrobium “Emma White” and Dendrobium “Pompadour” as parents. The crossing and in-vitro raising of progeny was done during 2003-04 and flowering obtained in 2007-08. This double hybrid flowered with features of moth type Dendrobium (D. phalaenopsis-cane type) with bigger petals, overlapping petals and sepals (unlike D. nobilecanetypes) and purple colored (RHS N78A) having whitish shade at base. Colour enrichment over male parent could be due to the parentage of the hybrids used in crossing program and their pedigree record. More numbers of flowers are recorded in D. “Emma White” (9.5) than NRCO-42 (5). The color of lip throat and column are whitish pink and white respectively in NRCO-42, helped as phonological markers. Side lobes of lip in new hybrid, NRCO-42 were semi-arching over column, unlike broadly open in male parent and semi open in female parent. Pedigree record of both the hybrids that were used as parents has been traced to origin with time frame which indicated that D. phalaenopsis, a native species to Australia and New Guinea, might have been extensively used in development of modern hybrids of moth type (or) double humped Dendrobiums. All the characters described support the novelty in the new D. phalaenopsis-cane type i.e., moth type hybrid, NRCO-42.Not Availabl

Soybean Research

Not AvailableSoybean is the world?s leading oilseed crop, important source of vegetable protein and demand for its seeds is increasing. Breeders have developed several widely cultivated varieties, but the genetic architecture of yield and key agronomic traits is poorly understood. In the present study, four widely cultivated soybean varieties and two exotic lines contrasting for various agro-morphological characters for crossing to develop four F2 populations viz., EC 538828 (PI 416999) x Young, JS 335 x Young, JS 95-60 x Young and JS 93-05 x JS 97-52. Significant differences are observed among the four F2 populations for all qualitative and quantitative characters under study. High coefficient of variation values was observed for many quantitative characters except for days to maturity, indicating presence of higher magnitude of variability for selection of these traits in subsequent generations for developing improved soybean cultivars. Segregation analysis of qualitative characters revealed major gene inheritance with monogenic control (for hypocotyl pigmentation, flower colour, leaf shape, pubescence, pubescence colour, pod colour, pod shattering) and digenic with various epistatic interactions (for growth habit, leaf shape, pubescence, pubescence colour, pod colour, pod shattering, seed lustre) in different crosses. Genetic control of various characters by major genes indicates scope for selection in the progenies of early generations to effectively manipulate these characters. Leaf let shape is found to be monogenic for oblong pointed being dominant over oval leaflet shape, but the ratio of 9:3:4 also observed, when lanceolate leaflet genotypes were crossed with broad leaflet shape parents in F2 population. Both 3:1 ratio and also 13:3 ratios observed for glabrous/pubescence among crosses. Pod shattering is found to be controlled by dominant inhibitory gene action

First <i>De novo</i> whole genome sequencing and assembly of mutant <i>Dendrobium</i> hybrid cultivar ‘Emma White’

ABSTRACTDendrobium hybrid cultivar ‘Emma White’ is an ornamental orchid with high commercial demand. We have used gamma-ray induced ‘early flowering mutant’ to generate draft genome sequences with total length (bp) with 678,650,699 and contigs at 447,500 with N50 at 1,423 using the Illumina HiSeqX10 sequencing platform. Here, we report first de novo whole genome sequencing and assembly of an early flowering gamma mutant of Emma White hybrid for developing a genomics resource for further studies. The GC content of genome was 33.48%, and predicted 95,529 genes from contig assembly. The predicted genes from the MaSuRCA (version 4.0.3) assembled contigs, when compared with uniprot database using BLASTX program with e-valuecutoff of 10−3 resulted 60,741 potential genes governing different pathways in terms for molecular functions, biological process and cellular components. We also identified 216,232 SSRs and 138,856 microsatellite markers. Chromosome level genome assembly of Dendrobium huoshanense species was used to RagTag scaffold the available contigs of mutant, where it contained total length of 687,254,899 bp with N50 value 2,096. Largest contiguous length was found with 18,000,059 bp from 30,571 bp. The genome completeness for Emma White RagTag scaffold assembly was assessed to be 93.6% complete using BUSCO v5.2.1 against the Viridiplantae odb10 orthologous dataset. De novo whole genome sequencing of gamma mutant Dendrobium hybrid cultivar Emma White (10Gy) isolate was deposited to National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) with SRA accession SRR16008784, Genebank assembly accession GCA_021234465.1(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/GCA_021234465.1#/st) and Transcriptional Shot Gun assembly accession GJVE00000000 under BioProject ID PRJNA763052. This study could provide valuable information for investigating the potential mechanisms of mutation, and guidance for developing Dendrobium hybrid cultivars using mutation breeding.</jats:p

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Not AvailableDendrobium, one of the largest genera of family Orchidaceae, is economically important both as an ornamental and medicinal crop. Varietal improvements of Dendrobium through the conventional breeding methods are difficult and challenging due to existence of incompatibility among the respective primary gene pool. Gamma irradiation technique is used to induce variability and generate mutants with improved traits in a short period. In our study, protocorm-like-bodies (PLBs) of Dendrobium hybrid ‘Emma White’ were exposed to gamma rays (of 10 - 80 Gy) and in vitro propagated up to M1V5 generation. Plantlets were regenerated from PLBs treated at 10, 20 and 40 Gy; while 60 and 80 Gy treated PLBs showed only proliferation even after 24 months of post-irradiation treatment. Phenotypic variations were recorded among the plantlets during the ex-vitro hardening stage. Leaf variations in terms of shape, size, structure, surface, tip and colour were observed in plantlets generated at 10 Gy. Significant variations and deformity were observed in leaf structure and arrangement at 40 Gy radiation level. Among 120 putative mutants, 12 lines viz. 10/4, 10/5, 10/12, 10/17, 10/35, 10/36, 10/60, 10/66, 10/75, 10/76, 10/82, 10/85 were selected for further analyses including molecular characterization. Mutant line 10/46 was identified with early flowering, within 09 months 24 days from the date of hardening. Findings indicate impact of gamma radiation effects on enhancing genetic variability of both vegetative and flowering traits of Dendrobium hybrid.Board of Research in Nuclear Sciences, BARC, MumbaiNo: 35/14/22/2016-BRNS/35061 Date: 06.06.201

Gamma Radiation Induced In-Vitro Mutagenesis and Isolation of Mutants for Early Flowering and Phytomorphological Variations in Dendrobium &lsquo;Emma White&rsquo;

In vitro mutagenesis offers a feasible approach for developing new orchid cultivars through genetic manipulation. In the present study, protocorm-like bodies (PLBs) were exposed to gamma rays (10, 20, 40, 60, 80 Gy) to study in vitro growth responses and induction of mutants in Dendrobium &lsquo;Emma White&rsquo;. Both proliferation and regeneration of PLBs decreased progressively with increasing doses, except for a significantly enhanced growth response at 10 Gy. The optimal dose of gamma radiation for mutagenesis was found in the range 10 to 25 Gy based on the growth reduction curve. Analysis using a high-throughput cell analyzer revealed a significant reduction in nuclear DNA content at &gt; 40 Gy doses. At 10 Gy treatment, the growth attributes, such as root length, plant height and leaf number, were significantly increased by 36%, 26% and 20%, respectively, compared to the control. This increase was significant over other tested doses as well. Testing of random amplified polymorphic DNA markers revealed the presence of detectable polymorphism among gamma mutant plantlets with a polymorphism information content value at 0.41. The gamma-ray-induced earliness in flower development was observed within 294 days post ex vitro growth of 10 Gy mutant compared to the control plants flowered after 959 days. Our results highlight the significance of gamma radiation in inducing enhanced growth, morphological variations and early floral initiation in Dendrobium, providing a basic framework for mutation breeding and improvement of orchids

Gamma Radiation Induced Phenotypic Diversity in Dendrobium 'Emma White'

Not AvailableDendrobium, one of the largest genera of family Orchidaceae, is economically important both as an ornamental and medicinal crop. Varietal improvement of Dendrobium through the conventional breeding methods is difficult and challenging due to existence of incompatibility among the respective primary gene pool. Gamma irradiation technique is useful to induce variability and generate mutants with improved traits in a short period. In our study, protocorm-like-bodies (PLBs) of Dendrobium hybrid ‘Emma White’ were exposed to gamma rays (10-80 Gy) and in-vitro propagated up to M1V5 generation to raise irradiated plant population. Phenotypic variability was recorded among the plantlets during the ex-vitro semi-hardening stage. Leaf variations in terms of shape, size, structure, surface, tip and colour were observed in 10 Gy irradiated plants. Significant variations were observed in leaf structure and arrangement at 40 Gy. The putative mutants were analyzed for molecular characterization. Among some of the desirable mutants isolated, Mutant line 10/46 was found to exhibit early flowering. The results suggest significant potential of gamma radiation on enhancing genetic variability of both vegetative and flowering traits of Dendrobium hybrid.Not Availabl